Just got done with a 3 hr. argument with my family. The essence of the “conversation” was that since I’m not going to the meetings, aka: in the “organization”, I’m not a good person. They said I’m an independent thinker and straddling the line towards apostasy. I shouldn’t think for myself and Satan has a hold on me. God has an organization, the Watchtower”, he directs them through his “Discrete Slave” and I should agree with everything they say, even it they later change some ideas, it’s just God’s way of adjusting his flock. They cried, said they loved me and said they did not want to see me die. I tried to reason with them, tried to make some good points, but I think everything I said came out wrong. The following are some points I touched upon. The first bullet point is mine, the second is my family's response:
· Children baptized at a young age (7,8,9 years old) they are not old enough or mature enough to comprehend what they are doing.
o If Jehovah did not approve of this, the Slave would have changed this a long time ago. They are old enough to comprehend what they are doing (marriage is completely different, it does not apply here). Gave examples of the children that became kings in biblical times. These kids were Jehovah approved; the same principle applies today.
· Reporting of hours – should we not preach because it comes from the heart, not because we want to meet the minimum hours?
o The apostles came back and reported their experiences and the amount of days they spent with the congregations. That is why we should report hours today.
· We should use our heads, use reason and logic and not agree with everything the “Slave” says.
o That sounds like and apostate thought. Even if the “Slave” is misguided, Jehovah will clear things up in his own time.
§ Why do we need to belong to an organization to serve God?
o Jehovah has always had an organization. He always works through his organization. If I’m not in the organization there is no way I can please or worship God. They are not perfect but God is using them today. I should submit to God’s will and be humble, independent thoughts will lead me to death; I am fulfilling Satan’s wishes.
§ The “Slave is not infallible” they have said it themselves; they are not inspired by God.
o So now I am smarter than the Slave, Satan thought he was smarter than God. This is God’s instrument and he adjusts their thinking when things are wrong in his due time. Even if we don’t comprehend things, we should follow their direction because sooner or later God will readjust their thinking and they will let us know. I must not run ahead of God’s chariot. I must be humble and patient.
§ The heavenly hope keeps changing. First it was done in 1935, and then it was open to fill the ones that were unfaithful, now it is open again.
o It was obviously not finished. Jehovah is readjusting our thinking and knowledge. We don’t judge or mistrust those who claim to be of the anointed, even before the current information came out, if an individual began to declare he or she was not anointed, it was between God and the individual, the organization never judged them.
I could go on, but I won’t. It just seemed that for every good point I made (or so I thought) it came down to, you are not humble, you think you are smarter; you have independent thoughts just like Satan. You cannot worship God if you are not a Witness. The organization is not perfect and I will see a lot of things that go wrong, but the Israelites did a lot of bad things, and that did not mean that they were not his organization. Jehovah uses imperfect people and an imperfect organization to do his will, it makes things harder but he is patient with us and he keeps on readjusting our thinking. Lastly, I’m making my family suffer and basically I suck as a person.
I feel like I didn’t score any points. By the way, I faded and I still speak with my family, but after tonight I think a lot of things are going to change. They knew I was out but they did not know what I thought. They know now, so I think they will cut all contact with me. There are two elders in my family and one ministerial servant, 5 of them are pioneers and two of them are being trained as Circuit Overseers (husband and wife team). My arguments did not make a single dent in their thinking. Once they cut me off, I will be all alone in the world.
I feel sad, depressed and a bit scared of the future without my family. Still, what a wonderful provision Jehovah has made! Kick your family to the curb if they don’t agree with everything his “Slave” says. The good thing is, since the big A is coming really soon, God will destroy me and I won’t have to worry about stuff like this anymore. Well, c’est la vie. Thanks for letting me rant.
